Federal immigration officials have detained Phillip James, 39, at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana, for nearly ten months while seeking to deport him to Jamaica. New records obtained by the Associated Press suggest James may actually be a United States citizen, born in Orange County, Florida, in 1987.
Evidence of citizenship emerges
James, who also uses the name Felibi Siagha‑Coke, was arrested in January after an immigration‑court hearing and transferred to the Indiana prison under a state‑federal agreement. The AP investigation uncovered a 1988 court document that confirms his paternity and matches the details on a Florida birth certificate, including his birth date, parents’ names and their residence.
James was issued a U.S. passport in 2008 and received a second passport after a legal name change in 2023. Federal officials later revoked the passport and denied his citizenship application, alleging the birth certificate was fraudulent, though the agency provided no evidence to support that claim.
Medical and legal complexities
James has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and medical experts say his repeated statements that he was born in Jamaica are likely delusional. His mother and attorneys maintain that he was born in Florida, a claim now backed by the newly released court record.
He initially represented himself in immigration proceedings before the Bronx Defenders took over his case. In August, his attorneys filed a federal petition seeking his release, and they are now appealing an immigration judge’s April order directing his deportation to Jamaica.
Facility concerns and state revenue
The Miami Correctional Facility, nicknamed the “Speedway Slammer” by the Trump administration, houses federal immigration detainees under a contract that could generate roughly $213 million for Indiana over its first two years. The facility has faced criticism for overcrowding and medical neglect, with at least two detainee deaths reported.
Immigration experts told the AP that holding a person who may be a U.S. citizen for an extended period is unusual, though not unprecedented. Former ICE official Deborah Fleischaker said the evidence supporting James’s citizenship appears strong, while acknowledging the case’s complexity.
Legal next steps
The federal government has not admitted any error in the detention and continues to argue that James’s citizenship claim should be resolved through immigration proceedings. U.S. District Judge Damon Leichty is expected to rule on the petition seeking James’s release.
Governor Mike Braun’s office declined to comment on the case.
What this means for Indiana residents
Indiana’s partnership with ICE brings significant revenue but also raises questions about oversight, detainee welfare, and the potential for wrongful detention of U.S. citizens. As the case proceeds, local advocates and families are watching closely to ensure that constitutional rights and due process are upheld.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
